Although the phone is often vilified as the most dangerous driving distraction – and with good reason – it may not actually be the biggest issue. It’s just the one that impacts almost all drivers in the same way, since the vast majority of people have phones. But it may not be the largest distraction in its own right.
Some studies have found that having children in the car is a bigger distraction for parents than if they were on their phones. The distraction level was found to be 12 times as great. This can cause severe car accidents that could injure passengers or individuals in other vehicles. Any distraction is problematic, but that’s a very concerning increase.
What do these distractions look like?
The distractions that children create have a wide range. For very young infants, the distraction could simply be crying or whining in the car, which is very common. Older children could ask for snacks or help picking up toys that they’ve dropped on the ground. Parents often wind up handing out items, answering questions, listening to complaints, turning on music and trying to keep children from fighting with one another.
Moreover, the distraction coming from children is difficult to handle because parents don’t feel like they can simply ignore it. They’re hardwired to want to help the children, and the children are used to getting that type of assistance. Someone who may be happy to set their phone down and ignore it while they drive just doesn’t have that option.
If a distracted parent causes a car accident and you suffer injuries, you need to know if you can seek financial compensation for your medical bills and other costs.